Going to summer camp in another country is a great opportunity to practice your English, make friends from all over the world, and discover a new culture.

As you’ll soon learn in your ESL classes, Canada has a long and fascinating history. And, during one of your weekend trips, you’ll even get to experience some of that history first-hand. That’s because Destination Canada campers get to visit the historical Upper Canada Village, which reconstructs what life was like for early pioneers.

Want to get a quick taste of what pioneer life was like before your visit? Here’s a quick sneak peek:

Pioneers Arrived to Canada From All Over the World

Just like many of the friends you’ll meet in your English summer classes, pioneers came to Canada from many different countries. Some were loyalist who had supported Britain during the American Revolution. Some had come from France to escape religious persecution. Others came from Germany, Scotland, and Ireland.

For these pioneers, the first few years when they got settled into their new home were the hardest. Land had to be cleared, houses and barns had to be built, and it was difficult surviving the long cold months of a Canadian winter with just a simple fireplace for warmth. For many of these pioneers, starving or freezing was a real danger. While these first year were undoubtedly difficult, the pioneers didn’t have to clear new land during their second year, making it easier to plant crops. With each passing year, life would get more comfortable. And, as more and more people settled into villages, mills to cut wood and grind flour opened – making it easier for pioneers to get by.

Life was more comfortable for pioneers after they had settled into their new home

Learn About How Canadian Pioneers Communicated During Your English Summer Classes

Today, you can easily Skype or email with your family to tell them about a day at camp or an exciting weekend trip. It just takes an instant to connect with anyone in the world. But, during the 1860s, communication was very different for the pioneers living in Canada.

Long distance communication had to be conducted through the mail, and people had to wait weeks or even months for a reply – depending on how far away their message needed to travel. That’s because mailed letters were transported by horse-drawn carriage, train, or steamboat, which took time to cross waters and navigate bumpy terrain before reaching its destination.

Urgent messages like breaking news, for example, could be conveyed by telegraph. These messages needed to be sent through Morse code, and so they were often shorter than a long article. For the full story, villagers needed to wait for the postman.

Telegraph machines helped pioneers send urgent messages quickly

Find Out Which Foods Pioneers Ate While you Attend English Summer School in Canada

While at English summer school in Canada, you’ll get to enjoy all-you-can eat buffet foods at the cafeteria on the Carleton University campus. You’ll get to taste fresh fruits and veggies, warm stir-fry and pasta dishes, or even create a fresh waffle at the waffle bar.

Pioneers had a lot less variety in their food options, but that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t tasty too. Without refrigerators, pioneer meals were seasonal. During the summer months, they enjoyed fresh fruits and vegetables from their gardens. And in the winter, they ate potatoes, beets, and other vegetables that could be stored for long periods of time without going bad. Animals like chickens, cows, and geese also provided pioneers with fresh milk, meat, and eggs.

During your visit to Upper Canada Village, you can also enjoy a warm and tasty slice of freshly-baked bread – another food many Canadian pioneers enjoyed.

Do you want to attend summer ESL classes in Canada?

Discover why Destination Canada is a truly unforgettable experience by visiting our website or speaking with one of our friendly advisors.